Applicant Status, Seeking Accreditation
The proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine at Larkin University is not currently approved by CIE or SACSCOC and is not accepting applications or enrolling students at this time. All activities are contingent upon required approvals.
Larkin has a deep understanding of the region’s landscape and a longstanding commitment to health that spans nearly six decades. With bold vision and unwavering dedication—true to the spirit of the Larkin lion—our institution is supported by a family legacy that has guided the inception, planning, and execution of the School of Osteopathic Medicine. As part of the Larkin family of education and health care, we are proud to continue transforming medicine, education, and community health across the region, state, nation, and beyond.
Larkin is uniquely positioned to launch a School of Osteopathic Medicine. The osteopathic philosophy emphasizes whole-person care and produces physicians who often serve in rural, underserved, and inner-city communities. Graduates go on to practice in both primary care and specialty fields, addressing the critical need for high-quality care in areas that need it most. Osteopathic medicine continues to be a top choice for students and communities alike, thanks to its mission-driven approach and strong health outcomes.
Message from the Dean
Welcome from the Founding Dean
Welcome to the proposed Jacqueline Nicole Michel College of Osteopathic Medicine at Larkin University.
It is my privilege to serve as the Founding Dean as we build a medical school dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians. We have a unique opportunity to create an educational environment that honors the traditions of osteopathic medicine while embracing innovation and preparing students for the evolving challenges of healthcare.
Medicine is more than knowledge and clinical skills. It is a profession grounded in compassion, integrity, service, and lifelong learning. Our goal is to develop skilled, thoughtful physicians who understand that the human connection remains at the heart of excellent patient care.
At LCOM, we envision a collaborative learning environment that combines traditional instruction, team-based learning, clinical experiences, and simulation. We want our students to become confident clinicians, effective leaders, and advocates for the patients and communities they serve.
We are equally committed to improving access to healthcare and addressing physician workforce needs through strong community partnerships and the development of graduate medical education opportunities.
To our future students, we look forward to welcoming you into a college where you will be challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow both personally and professionally. Your journey in medicine will be demanding, rewarding, and filled with opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
I invite you to join us as we build a college committed to educating compassionate, capable osteopathic physicians who will help shape the future of healthcare.
Sherry Turner, DO, MPH, FACOEP, FAOGME
Founding Dean
Jacqueline Nicole Michel College of Osteopathic Medicine (Proposed)
Program Overview
Mission:
Larkin University is a private non-profit higher education institution focusing on master’s and doctoral level programs in health professions to empower graduates who reflect the demographics of the healthcare needs of the communities we serve.
The Mission of the Larkin College of Osteopathic Medicine – applicant status- seeking accreditation, is to develop osteopathic physician leaders, nurtured in our community and prepared to innovate healthcare and the health care system.
LCOM will not be recruiting students until pre accreditation is awarded. Please continue to review our progress!
Vision:
To become a nationally and internationally recognized university through its educational programs, research and scholarly activity, and development of solutions that promote the common good of health and society.
Core Values:
Larkin University is committed to:
- Accountability
- Community Service
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Research
GOAL 1: IMPLEMENT A CULTURE THAT EMPHASIZES PATIENT CENTERED CARE, PATIENT OUTCOMES, AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
- Recruit faculty and staff who are aligned with the mission to advance primary care and other needed specialties.To achieve this objective, LCOM
will:- Engage in targeted recruitment and networking to identify faculty and staff who share this mission.
- Maintain LCOM leadership who emphasize primary care and community service.
- Recruit qualified students from rural and underserved communities in the South Florida region.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:- Collaborate with the Larkin University Admissions team to implement a recruitment plan for qualified candidates from the South Florida service region.
- Establish partnerships with schools and community leaders to facilitate the implementation of at least three pipeline programs in the LCOM service area.
- Place students in sites for clerkship training to experience practice in rural and underserved areas.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:- Partner with hospitals and clinics in the LU service area so that students can remain in a selected area for their clerkship training.
- Support hospitals in developing and expanding GME opportunities so that students who train in the region during their clerkship years have an opportunity to pursue residency training in the same region.
- Partner with the Jaqueline Nicole Michel Consortium for Osteopathic Medical Training to support GME endeavors through faculty development, simulation training, financial support, library services, and additional services as needed.
- Promote recruitment of faculty, staff, and students who reflect and understand the patient populations of South Florida.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:- Actively engage with universities in South Florida to encourage, advise, and support students during their premedical education.
- Provide education to university and college career counselors on the requirements for developing strong medical school applications.
GOAL 2: APPLY OSTEOPATHIC PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE TO EDUCATION AND PATIENT CARE
- Create a curriculum grounded in osteopathic principles, including the application of whole-person care, preventive aspects of health, and osteopathic manipulative diagnosis and treatment throughout all four years.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Emphasize the integration of the osteopathic tenets and five models of osteopathic medicine throughout all four years of the curriculum and have students report their application of osteopathic principles and OMM.
- Support GME through osteopathic education and funding to promote osteopathic recognition.
- Support faculty development in the area of osteopathic principles and practices.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Provide on-site and distance education in osteopathic principles and practices for COM faculty and preceptors at clinical sites.
GOAL 3: PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND FACILITATE LIFELONG LEARNING
- Deliver a clinically focused academic experience based on a hybrid, integrated, systems-based curriculum provided by experienced biomedical and clinical faculty.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Provide an integrated hybrid educational program that supports varied learning needs and educational approaches throughout the curriculum.
- Develop the curriculum through a team approach that includes biomedical scientists and clinicians.
- Ensure students master medical knowledge, patient care, interpersonal communication, professionalism, practice-based learning, systems-based practice, and osteopathic principles.
- Provide career counseling and support self-directed learning opportunities for students and faculty.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Create an individualized career and professional development program that includes, but is not limited to, match counseling, specialty selection, and professional growth for faculty.
- Enhance mentoring, advising, and peer support through Learning Communities.
- Utilize outcome measures to engage in continuous quality improvement for the COM.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Gather and analyze data related to academic performance and student feedback.
- Develop action plans based on identified needs to determine appropriate revisions to the curriculum.
- Utilize the curriculum committee to discuss and implement appropriate curriculum revisions.
- Participate with Larkin University in continuous quality improvement efforts.
- Facilitate the success of our students on the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA (COMLEX-USA).
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Plan and prepare resources for student success on COMLEX-USA Level 1 and Level 2-CE.
- Provide learning materials and individualized support for exam preparation.
- Provide students with materials on effective learning and test-taking techniques in medical school.
- Establish an early warning and intervention system for academic support of students.
GOAL 4: CREATE A STRONG SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE THROUGH RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY
- Generate an environment that supports research and scholarly activity.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:- Collaborate with the Larkin University Research Department to fund, develop, and support interprofessional research.
- Commit funding for grants and travel for research and scholarly activity.
- Make the strategic plan for research available to faculty and students.
- Incorporate training and expectations for student research into the curriculum.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Implement curriculum to train students in the scientific method and research processes.
- Develop a mentorship program to facilitate student research.
- Facilitate student completion of a scholarly project by the end of their medical school tenure.
- Provide support, resources, and protected time for faculty to engage in scholarly activity.
To achieve this objective, LCOM will:
- Facilitate faculty development workshops and symposia on grant writing, research, and scholarly activity.
· Collaborate with the Larkin University Research Department to provide pre-and post-award support to faculty and stude
- Facilitate faculty development workshops and symposia on grant writing, research, and scholarly activity.
Larkin Healthcare System:
Larkin Health System serves as a strategic clinical and operational partner to the College of Medicine. The partnership is designed to support the educational mission through the provision of clinical learning environments, operational services, and financial support, while preserving the University’s full academic autonomy. Larkin Community Hospital has been proudly serving South Florida since 1967 and is an accredited, integrated healthcare delivery system recognized by the Joint Commission. With locations in South Miami, Hialeah, and Hollywood, Florida, Larkin offers a full continuum of care—including inpatient and outpatient services, home health care, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living—across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
The South Miami campus is a 146-bed statutory teaching hospital, ranked as the third largest teaching hospital in Florida. It hosts 32 physician training programs and is home to several specialized centers of excellence: the Miami Neuroscience Center, the Center for Advanced Orthopedics, the Cancer Center, and the Florida Academic Dermatology Center. The Palm Springs campus in Hialeah sits on a 15-acre property and features a 247-bed acute care hospital and a seven-story medical office building. In Hollywood, Larkin Community Hospital Behavioral Health Services offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care.
Larkin Health System has long been a trusted institution in both healthcare and education, with a strong history of training students, residents, and physicians under the guidance of experienced clinical faculty. Since its founding, the Larkin network has played a significant role in medical education and patient care throughout the region.
Building on this legacy, Larkin University was founded by Dr. Jack Michel in 2013 as an independent not-for-profit university to expand educational opportunities through innovative and mission-driven academic programs.
Larkin’s Commitment to Osteopathic Medicine:
Larkin’s longstanding commitment to regional health—through its vibrant university, expansive residency programs, and forward-thinking research—has made a lasting impact on both national and global healthcare and education.
At its core, osteopathic medicine embraces a philosophy focused on promoting health while addressing disease. This approach is rooted in whole-person care and prepares physicians to serve diverse populations. As a result, many osteopathic physicians—whether in general practice or specialty fields—choose to work in medically underserved communities where they are needed most.
Florida, with a population of 23,372,215 in 2024, has the highest percentage of residents over the age of 65 (17.3%) and ranks 8th in having the fewest people under 18 (21.9%). The state is also experiencing a flat birth rate. Its population is highly diverse, comprising 51.5% non-Hispanic white, 26.6% Hispanic/Latino, 14.5% African American, 4% Native American, and 2.3% Asian residents (U.S. Census data). However, physician demographics in Florida do not yet reflect this diversity: only 0.1% are Native American, 5.6% are Black, 17.9% Hispanic, 7.53% Asian, and 54.2% White.
This mismatch highlights the urgent need for a more representative healthcare workforce—something Larkin is uniquely positioned to help address through its inclusive, mission-driven training and education programs.
Violations of Non-Discrimination Policy:
All members of the Larkin College of Osteopathic Medicine community should be aware that the COM is concerned about discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and is prepared to take action to prevent and correct such behavior. Individuals who engage in such behavior are subject to discipline, up to and including termination or dismissal/expulsion.
Information concerning an allegation of discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation will be handled in a confidential manner insofar as possible. Any employee or agent of the COM who receives a complaint of discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation or who otherwise learns of the occurrence of harassment has the responsibility to take prompt steps to ensure that the matter is addressed, even if the complainant refuses to be identified.
COM supervisory personnel have a responsibility and are required to discourage and eliminate conduct inconsistent with this policy. Supervisors are required to report any occurrence of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation they are aware of. Depending on the circumstances, the person against whom the complaint has been made may be placed on administrative leave pending investigation.
Concerns about violation of the non-discrimination policy should initially be addressed to the Title IX coordinator. If the issue is determined to be a potential violation under Title IX law, it will be addressed through the proper legal process. If the incident is deemed to not fall under the Title IX process it will be handled in one of the following ways:
1. Issues involving a STUDENT will be referred to the Student Performance Committee and addressed as a violation of LCOM Professionalism Policies
2. Issues involving a FACULTY member will be referred to the Department Chair who will address these with guidance from Human Resources.
3. Issues involving a STAFF member will be referred to Human Resources.
Appropriate remedial action will be taken depending upon the outcome of the investigation. No employee or student will be retaliated against for making a complaint, for bringing inappropriate conduct to the attention of management, or for participating in any investigation or hearing.
Clinical preceptor application form
Use the link below to apply as an LCOM clinical preceptor and submit the required information.
LCOM Preceptor Application Form: https://form.jotform.com/251596755135162
FAQs
The proposed Larkin College of Osteopathic Medicine – applicant status, seeking accreditation. Will not be able to recruit students- We wanted you to know about us.
Four-year medical school that teaches Osteopathic exam, treatment and principles accredited by SOC-CRC and seeking accreditation from the AOA COCA
There are not enough physicians to take care of the population and estimates of shortage require that we need to train more physicians, current medical school projections show that the deficit will persist even with the excellent training that is currently done. Current medical schools in the United States are working to fill this gap and there continue to be a desperate need for physicians.
By 2030 we will be experiencing a deficit of physicians 125, 000 physicians. With the new schools some estimates take that to ….
South Florida area has a growing population that will need accomplished physicians. Inner city marginalized populations and rural areas are underserved.
Before it became South Miami, the area was originally known as the community of Larkins (or Larkin’s), named after its early settler and first postmaster, Wilson A. Larkins. He established a post office and general store there in the late 1890s, and the surrounding settlement took his name as it grew around these early establishments. The former City of Larkin, now South Miami is where it all started, first with Larkin Community Hospital, later with Larkin University.
Larkin University, founded in 2013, is a private not-for-profit university and offers post baccalaureate program, professional and doctoral programs educating other health professionals to work collaboratively for the health of the area, state and nation. Current programs are a dental school, pharmacy, biomedical and PA school. The College of Medicine is established as an academically independent unit of the University. The University retains sole authority over all academic matters, including curriculum design, admissions, student assessment, promotion and graduation decisions, faculty appointment and evaluation, and compliance with accreditation standards.
Larkin Health System serves as a strategic clinical and operational partner to the College of Medicine. The Larkin system consists of three educational hospitals that have been training residents since 2013 and host many students each year for clinical rotations. Larkin also has 48 and growing GME programs, associations with many of the training hospitals in the region and are uniquely positioned to educate students for the future.
· Our faculty from accomplished long standing teaching hospitals and universities and are expert in their fields
· Integrated classes with team teaching
· Longitudinal early clinical experience
· Link to GME programs with many fellowships in established teaching hospitals
· Collaborative experience with Larkin University ‘s growing post baccalaureate programs- including dental, pharmacy, PA, biomedical
· Associated clinical teaching sites with residents in multiple specialties
· Global research opportunities with project 11, a collaborative experience and a community-based research project that focuses on the needs of patients.
· Longstanding associations with physicians and alumni from the Larkin hospital systems for mentoring, teaching and advising.
in honor and loving memory of Jacqueline Nicole Michel (2007–2025), a bright and compassionate young woman who touched the lives of all those around her, the Board of Trustees of Larkin University, with the full support of the President’s Council, faculty, students, and staff, and in close consultation with the Michel family, has unanimously resolved to name the medical school the: Jacqueline Nicole Michel College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Jacqueline Nicole Michel was the beloved daughter of Dr. Jack J. Michel, founder of Larkin University, her mother Ms. Mary Michel, her stepmother Alba Lucia Michel, and her siblings John, Thomas, Stephen, Annie, and Chiara. As a freshman at the University of Central Florida, Jacqueline was pursuing a degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine, driven by a lifelong love for animals and a deep sense of responsibility for the well-being of others. She was a passionate advocate for women, minorities, and marginalized communities and devoted her time to both global and local causes.
Jacqueline volunteered at Parkway Middle School, mentoring and guiding younger students, and consistently demonstrated empathy, courage, and service in all aspects of her life. In memoriam of her the City of Lauderhill proclaimed her Birthday, January 12th, “Jaqueline Nicole Michel Day”.
Jacqueline leaves behind an enduring legacy of kindness, compassion, and advocacy. It is a profound honor that the Jacqueline Nicole Michel College of Osteopathic Medicine will be the first Osteopathic College of Medicine in the United States named after a woman.
Larkin University hopes that the principles and values that defined Jacqueline’s character will be exemplified by every future physician educated within its walls.
The proposed Larkin College of Osteopathic Medicine – applicant status- seeking accreditation, believes in integrity and transparency. It is the policy of the College of Medicine (COM) that all public information is/will be presented in an accurate, fair, and complete manner. This applies to all printed information as well as content appearing on the website and content posted by the COM to social media platforms.
Any stakeholder may contact the Commission on
Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) directly. Contact information for the COCA is:
Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
American Osteopathic Association
142 E. Ontario
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 202-8124